The QUEEN’S BATON RELAY visits Botswana

The Queen’s Baton Relay is the traditional curtain-raiser to the Commonwealth Games. It visits all 70 competing nations and territories representing almost a third of the world’s population. Botswana was the 14th country in Africa to host the Baton from 1st of May and departed on 4th of May for Mozambique.

Upon its arrival at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, the Queen’s Baton had the opportunity to visit the three Dikgosi Monument at Central Business District, the World War II Monument and the statue of the founding President of the Republic of Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama. The celebration of QBR ended at Bokamoso Community Junior School where different activities took place.

Day two, the QBR team travelled to Letlhakane where it received a warm welcome from the Boteti leadership and community. Supang Memorial Primary School hosted the Baton with various sporting and traditional activities. The students were given the opportunity to interact with the Baton. The school is participating in the Gold Coast School connect programme where they are twinned with another school in Gold Coast to share and exchange culture.

The day ended with a traditional dinner at the Kgotla where the community interacted with the Baton. On day three the baton travelled back to Gaborone making stops at Mmashoro CJSS, Paje Primary School and finally Botswana International University of Science and Technology in Palapye.

Leading up to every edition of the Commonwealth Games, the Queens Baton travels from Buckingham Palace, United Kingdom and visit every Commonwealth Country and territory before ending its journey to the host city of the next Commonwealth Games; in this case the Gold Coast, Australia where the Games will be staged from 04th-15th April 2018.

The Baton carries a message from the Queen to the Commonwealth that will be read at the Opening Ceremony of the Games. The Baton, symbolises the coming together of all Commonwealth nations and territories in preparation for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April 2018.

CGA Botswana would like to thank the many individuals and organisations whose hard work and commitment ensured that the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay visit to Botswana was a memorable and successful occasion.